Gregory Gardens Weekly Bulletin
Week of October 20, 2019
Greetings from Administration
Week 9 is officially in the books! The week started off with a big shake, which sparked some great conversations around being prepared for earthquakes and other scary situations. Students were able to talk with peers and teachers in community circles and address any fears they may have. On Thursday our entire site participated in the Great California Shake Out. Students and staff practiced duck and cover and then made a swift evacuation! Everyone did an excellent job. We are working with our PTA and several parents to ensure we have the proper tools and equipment for future issues. Our Academies and Gator Time rotations are continuing to be a success for students. We are proud of the interventions and enrichments we are able to provide students during this time. Students in elementary and preschool were activity engaged in rigors lessons this week. I am proud of their hard work and stamina! Thank you to all of our families who came out for our Dine and Donate event at Chipotle, our school raised over $400!
Looking ahead- This week, I will continue to get into classrooms and support student success. As a site we are working on full implementation of Engage New York Math. This will support all learners and ensure we have a consistent math language across campus. Wednesday teachers will receive professional development on Community Circles. District Coach, Kathy Flores will join us to discuss the power behind weekly class circles and she will model facilitating productive conversations for students. We will continue to work on our sites core values- be safe, be respectful, be responsible and be kind. When conflict or undesirable behavior arises, teachers address the issues through restorative conversations and positive redirection. Please encourage your students to participate in Red Ribbon Spirit Week. Each day has a dress up theme to go along with classroom conversations about fueling our bodies with healthy foods, staying away from drugs and alcohol and making good choices with peers. We will end our week with the 7th annual Gatorween, I cannot wait to see everyone dressed in their spookiest and silliest costumes!
What's Happening Around School
Red Ribbon Week: Anti-bullying prevention and drug awareness. October 21-25, 2019
ALL GGES and RSP students and staff are encouraged to participate in
Mon., Oct. 21st – Sports Day
Don’t make anyone feel like they’re not part of the team – stand up to bullying! (Favorite team jersey or T-shirt)
Tue., Oct. 22nd – Disney Day
Follow your dreams to your happily ever after – don’t do drugs!(Favorite Disney character t-shirt/clothes/accessories)*No stuffed animals or toys please.
Wed., Oct. 23rd – Pajama Day
Don’t fall asleep in your life – stay alert, stay off drugs & help stop bullying! No slippers please.
Thur., Oct. 24th – Dr. Seuss Day
I know a Thing or 2 about making healthy choices! (Wear Dr. Seuss / red & white clothes/or crazy hair)
Fri., Oct. 25th – Crazy Neon Day
My future is so bright – I’m saying NO to drugs & taking a stand against bullying!
(Wear really bright clothes & crazy socks)
Gatorween
We hope to see all of our elementary and preschool families at our 7th Annual Gatorween this Friday, October 25th from 5:30-8:30 pm. Costumes are encouraged, admission is Free!
Tickets for food, drinks and activities can be purchased in advance of the event. If you would like to volunteer to help at the event please sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0c4ba4a729a1f58-gatorween
Dont have time but still want to help? Check out our Amazon Wish List! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3R9K163RY1OH7?ref_=wl_share
Contact PTA for more info.
MT. DIABLO HEALTH FAIR/FREE FLU VACCINES:
Please see the flyer HERE for the Mt. Diablo Health Fair and Open House on Wednesday, October 23rd on the Loma Vista Campus.
Free flu vaccines will be available and all can visit our sensational career programs.
Halloween 2019
Students may wear costumes to school on Thursday 10/31. Students must wear school appropriate shoes. Please no accessories that need to be carried (wands, swords, light sabers), masks, toy weapons or excessively scary costumes.
TK/Kinder Parade - 9:30-9:50a in the bus circle
Preschool Parades- 9:50a and 1:00p
Lost & Found
November 1 is donation day!!!!! Please be sure to come find your items. All lost items are displayed along the picket fence in the front hall of the school and on the picket fence just outside of the playground bathrooms.
Mural Input
We are excited to bring a new mural to our school for current Gators to enjoy. We are working with a Gregory Gardens artist on our new mural in the front of school. We want our mural to represent our diverse and inclusive school. If you have ideas or input, please email me at koontzk@mdusd.org.
Intra-district transfer requests for the 2020-2021
Elementary Intra-district Transfers 2020-2021 - All Elementary Intra-district Transfer
applications will be available at the same time. Therefore, the online application for
Intra-district transfers (new TK/K and current K-4) will now be available at
mdusd.org/transfers February 10, 2020 – March 10, 2020.
• Secondary Intra-district Transfers 2020-2021: The online application for secondary
Intra-district transfers (current grades 5-11) will be available at mdusd.org/transfers
October 15, 2019 – November 15, 2019.
For more information please visit www.mdusd.org/transfers.
Campus Updates
*The roof project is complete! Equipment will be removed soon
*1/3 of the slide has arrived to the warehouse. It will be installed as soon as possible
*The Gator Stairs are here. They should be installed this week.
*Weather permitting- the blacktop will be repainted over Thanksgiving break!
Click here to view the 2019-2020 MDUSD Academic Calendar
Student Attendance
Attendance is a school and district focus. We are continuing to track attendance to assist our community focus on attendance. Starting with October we will be recognizing a class with the best reduction in Tardiness with a popcorn party and a ten minute extra Friday recess. Our first celebration will be on Friday, November 1st. Please continue to communicate to your students the importance of their attendance and arriving on time!
Gregory Gardens Elementary
Campus Climate
Please be mindful of drop off and pick up procedures. The church has graciously allowed us to use their property to accommodate parents. They have asked us to keep the lot exit only. Families should not be entering the parking lot to park. Please use our school driveway to enter the church lot. We recognize the lines can get long, however we must keep all of our children's safety at top priority. Please pull forward as far as possible to ensure all students can get dropped off and picked up safely and in a timely manner. We are working with Pleasant Hill PD to provide support on the neighborhood streets. We are a community, if you see students being unsafe, please kindly remind them to be responsible. Together we can get our students where they need to be on time.
Student Pick Up/Drop Off
Please remember that we cannot have cars in the traffic circle at any time, this includes Kinder pick up and drop off. The lane is used for buses for students for the Preschool. Parking is available in the school lot or if needed in the church parking lot next door. Thank you for helping us keep the buses and students getting safely to and from school.
Volunteer Opportunities
*Check into the office to receive your visitors pass.
*Adults will be verified using our online database.
*Make yourself available to all students.
Thank you for helping support our positive and safe campus climate.
Volunteers are always encouraged, any day of the week - just come in when you can. However, for the safety of everyone, we can no longer allow non Gregory Gardens children on campus during volunteering, unless they can be carried in a baby carrier.
Below is a link to the MDUSD volunteer instruction page.
https://mdusd-ca.schoolloop.com/pf4/cms2/view_page?d=x&group_id=1394262952238&vdid=i4ea1lrm2y3nd
PTA Corner
Thank you PTA for supporting our new STEAM lab, outdoor recess games and MUR chairs. We can't wait to bring these items to our students.
If your student is struggling in math, consider joining Aloha Math an After School Program option. Visit the PTA Facebook page for more information.
For more information and ways you can help, please connect with your PTA room parent or check us out on Facebook.
Attendance
If you think your student will be absent, please call the Attendance Hotline at (925) 682-8000 ext. 7042. Please include your student's name, teacher, and reason for absence. Please be sure to call before 9:30 am. Thank you.
Follow Us
Check out how we spend our days! Follow us
Twitter @gregory_gators, @GGESgarden, @RSP_MDUSD, @MsKoontzMDUSD
Instagram @gregory_gatorsMDUSD
Robert Shearer Preschool
What's Happening around Preschool
Students are getting into the Fall spirit. We have been exploring with pumpkins, singing songs about Fall leaves and making new friends. Recently our 5th grade elementary students have been supporting our preschoolers on the playground and in the classroom. It is delightful to see students supporting each other in this way
Halloween 2019
Preschoolers will have two parades this year. 9:50a and 1:00p, both in the bus circle. Immediately following the parade students will trick or treat in various areas around campus. Bring your costumes and your smiles, it's going to be a great day.
Looking Ahead
October
October 21-25- Red and Blue Ribbon Week
October 25- GatorWeen- 5:30-8:30pm
October 31- Halloween
November
November 8: End 1st Trimester
November 11: Veterans Day- No School
November 12- See's Candy Fundraiser begins
November 15- Lunch on the Green
November 22- Report cards sent home
November 25- 29: Thanksgiving Break
December
December 2- See's Candy Orders Due
December 9-20- Parent Teacher Conferences
December 23-January 6- WINTER BREAK
January
January 7- WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL
January 17- Family Movie Night- 6pm
January 20- Martin Luther King - No School
January 27-31- Multicultural Week
January 27-31- Book Fair #2
January 31- Multicultural Week Potluck
Conversations to Have at Home
Happenings around campus
Previous Newsletters
2019-2020
October
September
August
2018-2019
June
May
April
March
Gregory Gardens/Robert Shearer Community
Website: https://gges-mdusd-ca.schoolloop.com/
Location: 1 Corritone Court, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, USA
Phone: (925) 827-3770
Twitter: @gregory_gators